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Humanities Institute

Please note that the application process for 2018 has closed. All spots have been filled. Applications for 2019 will open October 1, 2018.

Politics and the Arts

July 1-13, 2018

Literature and the fine arts can transform individual lives, but can they change the world? The Humanities Institute will focus on the political impact of the arts in the past and in the present – on the role of artists as activists, social critics, visionaries, and, in some cases, creators of propaganda. We will also study how the relationship between politics and the arts has been understood at different historical moments and in different cultural traditions, and consider the arguments made for and against placing limits on artists’ freedom of expression.

The institute is divided into morning and afternoon sessions that include assigned readings, hands-on activities, and a final project. Morning sessions will give you the opportunity to hone your critical reading and thinking skills through seminar-style discussions with leading Washington University humanities faculty. Afternoon sessions will offer a chance to enhance your understanding through field trips, performances, guest lectures, museum visits, and film screenings. A concluding panel discussion will provide an overview of humanities majors and the different career paths to which they can lead. See sample schedule for examples of program activities.

Please note there will be no classes held on July 4 as the university observes this holiday. Social events will be planned for that day, but there will be no class meetings. A make-up session will be scheduled for students on Saturday, July 7.

Final Project

Throughout the two weeks, you will work together in teams to create a podcast related to the theme of politics and the arts. A selection of possible topics will be distributed on the first day of the seminar and time will be set aside each evening to ensure that you make steady progress on the project. Consultations with Washington University communications professionals and a visit to St. Louis Public Radio studios will provide practical instruction in podcasting.

Program Fees

The 2018 program fee is $3,885. Program fees include all academic and residential expenses. Scholarship assistance is available for students who demonstrate financial need. See 2018 Institute Program Feesfor more information on fees and scholarship assistance.

The deadline to submit applications and supplemental information is April 1, 2018. We review applications on a rolling basis. Once we receive all of the required supplemental information to complete an application, students are notified by email of the admission decision within 10-12 business days. Qualified applicants are admitted until all spaces in the program are filled. Please note that many of our programs fill before theApril 1, 2018deadline, so we strongly encourage students to apply early.

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